According to BlockBeats, on July 21, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that two foreign nationals have admitted their involvement in the Lockbit ransomware organization in Newark federal court. Russian citizen Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov and Mikhail Vasiliev, who holds dual citizenship in Canada and Russia, were identified as members of the Lockbit group. This organization has been active since January 2020 and has targeted over 2,500 victims across 120 countries, extorting approximately $500 million in ransom. Their victims include hospitals, educational institutions, and commercial enterprises.

Astamirov and Vasiliev used Lockbit ransomware to encrypt and steal data, demanding ransom and threatening to release the information if their demands were not met. They were arrested in 2023 and 2022, respectively, and could face up to 25 years and 45 years in prison. Previously, U.S. authorities had filed charges against the leaders of the Lockbit ransomware group and offered a $10 million reward for their capture.